EUSD administrators hoped yoga would help the elementary school students focus on studies, keep them calm and possibly even curb bullying.

Jois Foundation Defends Yoga Program

Eugene Ruffin with the K.P. Jois Foundation explains its funding of a yoga program within the Encinitas Unified School District. (Published Monday, Jul 1, 2013)

However, some parents heard the chanting, saw the Sanskrit and objected.

After complaining to the district, opponents sued claiming the classes are being used to indoctrinate children and "spread the gospel" of Ashtanga yoga. The plaintiffs wanted yoga classes suspended immediately.

Lawsuit Targets Encinitas Schools' Yoga Class

Attorney Dean Broyles argued Ashtanga yoga is inherently religious and that teaching the poses is therefore a violation of the separation of church and state.

In his ruling Monday, Superior Court Judge Meyer said P.E. has traditionally involved physical activity and breath control — whether ithrough jumping jacks, dodgeball, kickball or running — as well as character teachings like perseverance, determination and sportsmanship.

"This physical education, health and wellness class is no different except the physical aspect kickball or something else is EUSD yoga which involves a particular stretching and breathing routine different from traditional physical education."

Judge Meyer called the influence of the foundation over the EUSD curriculum "troublesome" but ruled that the district was not teaching the children any religious component during the yoga instruction.

Broyles said the ruling was confusing. “For the judge to say yoga is religious… but then to say this EUSD yoga is not religious, I’m not sure how he arrives at that point,” he said.

The grant was for the district to create a health and wellness curriculum and yoga is a cost-effective way to attain happy, healthy kids Ruffin said.

“It would be a shame if these children could not have the same kinds of choice as it relates to these century-old techniques as you and I have as adults," he said. “It would be pitiful.”

Superintendent Timothy Baird, Ed.D., said formal studies are being conducted about the results of the program.

He did offer results from one school that taught yoga to students before the program was expanded to all nine of the district's schools. Teachers reported an increase in API for the school as well as better schoolyard behavior according to Baird.

The plaintiffs' attorney cited studies that shows prayer in school helps calm students down and focuses them to perform better.